The week of March 24-30, looking back in stretches of years divisible by five:

«1943: Former Husker player and Arkansas coach Fred Thomsen, a captain in the Army, helps organize competitive softball, touch football and basketball for U.S. military personnel serving in China during World War II. Thomsen, from Minden, Neb., was an end at Nebraska who lettered in 1920 and 1922.

1948: Bernie Masterson, who resigned as Nebraska's coach in February, is reported to be the likely choice as the next coach at St. Mary's. (He could not agree to terms with the California college and instead become an assistant coach with the New York Yankees of the short-lived All-America Football Conference.)

1988: The Atlanta Falcons, owning the first pick in the upcoming NFL draft, opt for Auburn's Aundray Bruce over Nebraska's Neil Smith. Smith would be the No. 2 pick, going to the Kansas City Chiefs, and would be selected six times to the Pro Bowl to Bruce's none.